Most surprisingly good location in Japan: Monbetsu

I will be the first to say that Monbetsu in Hokkaido wasn't on my radar at all before I went there for a monitor tour experience. Everyone knows Sapporo, Otaru, Niseko, and the like, but I don't think I'd ever heard of Monbetsu before, even though it has an airport that major domestic carriers fly into.

So what does Monbetsu have to offer? First of all, it's one of the locations in Japan where you can head out on a drift ice cruise in the winter. Basically, you get to witness sea ice up close, which makes you feel like you're somewhere in the Arctic rather than off Hokkaido's coastline. 

I also got to interact with seals being rehabilitated at the Okhotsk Tokkari Center. These days I'm a bit iffy about animal experiences here because I'm wise enough to know they're not all ethical and there can be animal exploitation going on. This place is different, though, as they're actually rehabilitating injured seals, and your small admission fee goes towards that.

If you're a foodie, they have some of the best crab in Japan out this way, and I even got to go to a kamaboko (fish cake) factory to see those being made!

Also, during winter they have a drift ice festival here (the 2026 edition is running from February 6th to 8th) which is cool to check out! The year I was there, they had a ton of cool sculptures set up including things like Totoro and Kirby. Fewer crowds than the Sapporo Snow Festival, and a more local vibe! 

Definitely an underrated destination with a ton of stuff to see and do. I would recommend it if you're looking for a fun, off the beaten path winter spot.